Town of Cochrane Strategic Plan – Final Report October 2014
few have websites, and those that do rarely have the capacity to conduct transactions on
line. This is a significant disadvantage in an era where consumers are increasingly short on
time and are comfortable and have a preference for placing orders on-line.
Opportunities
1. Develop training programs for trades people: It may be possible to work with Northern
College to bring local training programs to the community. These might eventually
address shortages of skilled trades people.
2. Increasing interest in agricultural land: The community could leverage the regional
agricultural studies conducted in the last five years to prepare land prospectuses and other
promotional materials.
3. Build Tourism: There are opportunities to attract francophone tourists as well as those
travelling from other parts of Ontario. There may also be ways to capitalize on the visitors
who arrive in Cochrane to take the Polar Bear Express (e.g. with a “Stay Another Day”
campaign”). See the Tourism section 4.2.7 for more information.
4. Contracts from Detour Gold: Entrepreneurial support programs may encourage more
people to take advantage of contracts for which Detour Gold requests proposals of interest.
5. Build cottage/summer vacation industry: Cochrane’s proximity to forested areas, lakes and
trails makes it an ideal location for family and group vacations at cottages or summer
homes.
6. Increase education through technology: The community’s fibre optic infrastructure is
capable of supporting modern educational technologies such as video-conferencing. There
may be opportunities to work with Northern College or Contact North to offer technologyenabled training. The novelty of such programs might also reduce the stigma associated
with many adult learning and literacy offerings.
7. Better leverage traffic on Trans Canada hwy: The municipality may want to increase its
Economic Development resources to add an active business attraction component that
leverages Highway 11 traffic. This has the added effects of increasing local business
competition without disturbing the equilibrium of downtown businesses.
8. Lobby for return of spring bear hunt: Participants in the tourism consultation believe that
there would be considerable business opportunities associated with a reinstatement of the
hunt. Furthermore, as a public safety issue, residents are concerned that nuisance bears are
eroding the community’s reputation as a safe place to visit or live.
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